Bill to protect law enforcement animals passes senate

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Mar 26th 2013 09:30 am

On
Monday, the State Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation that
increases the penalty level for killing or injuring a police dog to a
Class D felony. This legislation was sponsored by Sen. George D.
Maziarz. He said it is extremely important, as state and local law
enforcement agencies increasingly rely on these animals in crime
solving, rescue and recovery operations. Under current law, killing
or injuring a police animal is a Class A misdemeanor.

In
2011, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, including its K-9 unit,
responded to a burglary call in Niagara Falls. While tracking
possible clues on the roof, Rocky, the Sheriff Office's K-9, leaped
over a three-foot retaining wall and fell to his death. Eventually an
individual was arrested on a number of charges, but not in the death
of the beloved animal. Likewise, less than a month ago, in Herkimer
County, an FBI dog named Ape was killed during a shootout with a
gunman.

"Police
animals like Rocky and Ape do a remarkable job in protecting and
serving our state," Maziarz said. "After these incidents were
over, police officers were able to return home to their spouses and
children because the dogs gave their life to protect them and the
residents of that community. The use of police dogs is increasing,
and they are being used for tasks that our own police officers used
to do. It is time that we provide these animals the protection they
deserve under the law when they are injured or die in the line of
duty."

This
legislation was sent to the Assembly, where it is currently in the
codes committee.